Actually, he's not. The Hornets play in an arena that's less than 10 years old (completed in 1999). The issue is they cannot support the NBA's exhorbitant ticket prices and their attendance is low.

!

I lived in Charlotte for about 8 years in the '90s and early 2000's. The problem w/ the Hornets is the owner, George Shinn. He can't stand to have an arena more than 8-10 yrs old. The Hornets sold out like 8 yrs in a row in Charlotte (sound familiar), but a marginal non-playoff product wore thin and Shinn said the problem was he didn't have enough luxury boxes, so a new Arena must be built. So he moved to New Orleans. Now 8-9 yrs later, surprise he's looking to move. The guy is trouble. Think DMGM as an owner and bigger ego.

Just imagine if we were being told this offseason that the Jacket's will need a newer, bigger arena in order to compete for the Stanley Cup. So pony up or they're gone. That's the reason the NBA gave Charlotte a 2nd chance so quick after the Hornets left. They saw what had happend in a very good basketball market (think ACC basketball).

Be glad Cleveland & Indy are close enough that this could never happen!!!

__________________
"Every game, every point is a necessity." -- Ty Conklin, January 2007
"I'll have a chance to compete for the post of first issue. This is the most important thing." -- Sergei Bobrovsky, June 2012

Actually, he's not. The Hornets play in an arena that's less than 10 years old (completed in 1999). The issue is they cannot support the NBA's exhorbitant ticket prices and their attendance is low.

As someone noted above, they aren't alone. NBA teams average lower attendance in part because of their ticket price model.

If you think lower bowl tickets for the Jackets are bad, be glad you're not a fan of the L.A. Lakers--I know I am, go Celtics!

Lakers? Pfft! That is THE premier ticket in sports for the city of Los Angeles -- The price is that high because of demand. Simple economics drove the price up. You have the same thing with Maple Leafs tickets. The team is in the dumpster, yet they still are the most profitable NHL club

As far as the argument goes, I'm just saying that, in general, popularity isn't an issue for the NBA and the argument that their popularity is the sole reason why relocation is such a hot issue is not entirely the case (see: Seattle). THAT part is false.

Half of the reason the NHL isn't on ESPN is because of the poor ratings leading up to the lockout

Egg-zactly.

This whole "ESPN will improve the NHL's ratings" garbage is a myth...a wives tale..a load.

Versus right now is getting the same ratings ESPN2 had....and don't kid yourselves, if the NHL does go back to ESPN, outside of a Stanley Cup game or two, the rest will be on ESPN2.

..and the NHL bashing by those egomaniacs at Bristol will absolutely continue.

I could care less if the NHL ever goes back to that network and I'm glad they are continuing with Versus and hopefully some day way down the road Versus can really challenge ESPN in the sports cable niche.